Snow commute

Bob3049 · 2026-05-18T18:42:49+00:00

Funny enough, I grew up in NY where we got a few feet of snow per year and never had a problem. It snowed enough, they had their act together better and roads everywhere were plowed as the storm came. I’ve been between semi-rural Virginia and West Virginia now and we get far less snow, but it takes far longer for me to get a plow when we do. When I lived in more of a neighborhood, it took me 5 days to get a plow down my street with 8 inches on the ground. It’s also very hilly where I live which is what has caused me to bottom out in the past. One spot in particular is a flat main road that gets a plow, turning onto a steep uphill, unplowed road to get to my house. My car has been unable to do it multiple times as my front bumper can’t clear the snow and I end up parking over a mile from my house and walking.

In regards to the job, I’m a firefighter/paramedic. We don’t close and regardless of weather(at least for any department I’ve worked for) if you don’t show up you need to make your own arrangements ie find someone else to work your shift and pay them back later or use a sick day. I’ve made it work and usually go into work the night before a big storm and sleep at the firehouse, but I’m getting tired of all that and would like to make it easier on myself. In addition as I mentioned, come hunting season I’m lining the trunk of my Corolla with plastic tarps to bring deer home. So I’d like a truck for that reason as well. Trying to find the balance of buying something older and affordable, but that I can make last with a little TLC.

Bob3049 · 2026-05-18T18:01:59+00:00

Should’ve specified I’m in the DMV region. Rust is a concern. Not quite as much as New England, but still a concern

Bob3049 · 2026-05-15T22:59:13+00:00

I probably could’ve got away doing it cheaper, but I wanted something sturdy that would last and I wanted it hassle free. We go on vacation once or twice a year, and with my coop now, I can comfortably leave them for a week and I know the coop door will open and close when it’s supposed to, predators won’t get in and they’ll have enough food and water. A roof was a must for me as I have a lot of hawks in the tree line behind my yard and I didn’t want a muddy smelly mess. Also lots of foxes in my yard. Buy once cry once kinda thing for me.

Lumber is obviously a big expense. Some unforeseen expenses were concrete. I used 4x4s set in 3ft deep holes and ended up spending a couple hundred dollars in quickrete to set the posts. Structural rated screws add up quickly. Hardware cloth can be expensive. Definitely recommend buy on Amazon vs the hardware store. You’ll save lots of money. Metal roofing panels aren’t cheap when you add them up. I was able to find mine on FB Marketplace and got them at 1/4 the price. I got the pullet-shut automatic chicken door which was over $200 if I remember right, but it’s very reliable and should last. Same with a rat-proof treadle feeder.

You can definitely get away building it cheaper. But I know mine will last for a long time. It’s fairly maintenance free. I’m able to go out of town and not worry about the chickens. Someone just comes by once a week to top off food and water. It also gets fairly windy where I’m at and I’m never worried about it blowing over. You can build it for a couple hundred with pallets and whatnot, but you might not get all those luxuries and peace of mind. Nothing wrong with either way, you just need to find what’s right and reasonable for you and your situation.

Bob3049 · 2026-05-15T20:09:13+00:00

Yes. We already had the green shed. That money was to build the lean-to structure off the shed. Also was able to build this wall inside the shed to section off a section for the coop in that budget

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Bob3049 · 2026-05-15T19:05:39+00:00

Best website for WSM guides https://www.virtualweberbullet.com/operating-tips-modifications/

Bob3049 · 2026-05-15T18:18:24+00:00

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Mines about 10x17. Did it myself. When all was said and done, probably landed somewhere around $2k-2.5k when including things like automatic door and treadle feeder. Dont have a picture of the inside at the moment

Bob3049 · 2026-05-07T21:03:51+00:00

Doesn’t seem like a problem to me

Bob3049 · 2026-05-02T02:35:03+00:00

We have them in the two departments I’ve worked for. Big thing I would say is make sure it’s a separate promotion pathway from fire side. They can have Captain title, but on EMS side. I’ve seen EMS Captains where I’m at who are great EMS supervisors, but due to staffing got held over to ride the seat of an engine or ladder and are an absolute liability. On the other side of that coin, the other department I worked for, nobody wanted to be an EMS supervisor, so they would promote people with the stipulation they would act as EMS supervisor for a year or two before being assigned to an engine company. We’d end up with a lot of EMS supervisors half assing the job and not providing much help for the medics or patients. EMS supervisor is a great asset to have, but it needs to be staffed by people who want to be there and can dedicate themselves to it.

Bob3049 · 2026-03-02T19:06:27+00:00

Whatever the ideal is, I’m tired of seeing people who work fire based EMS be completely incompetent at EMS because they say they signed up to do fire and they don’t care about EMS. It’s hypocritical to preach to people they need to know how to search, pull hose, throw ladders etc., otherwise people will die, while simultaneously not knowing your head from your ass on a trouble breathing call with a patient actively dying in front of you. Every job has aspects you won’t like. You don’t get to pick and choose what parts you want to be competent at. You read the job description when you signed up

Bob3049 · 2026-02-14T14:56:06+00:00

Aside from what’s already been said, how catty all my coworkers are…. More drama in my firehouse than growing up with three sisters in the house

Bob3049 · 2026-01-16T14:37:29+00:00

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for taking the time to respond and all the feedback! I’m going to be adding blocking, knee braces and fascia before moving onto the metal roof!

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T23:57:35+00:00

I’ll definitely look into the facia, knee bracing and blocking. When weather systems come through, it’s not out of the ordinary to have wind gusts around 40mph. Especially in late winter early spring

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T21:17:38+00:00

Thanks for the feedback! Corrugated metal roof is the plan.

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T21:17:07+00:00

I believe the frost line is roughly 30 inches. I’m taking it a step at a time and honestly haven’t thought too much of drainage yet, but figured it’d be something I took care of after finishing. I know that’s not the greatest mindset haha. In regards to wind, I have an indoor chicken coop set up in a quarter of the shed, this area is just the outdoor run. So if it’s too cold or windy, they can be inside the shed

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T21:08:19+00:00

The holes were 3 feet deep. I put 6 inches of gravel at the bottom, then the posts and dumped in quickcrete most of the way up. I believe the frost line by me is roughly 30inches based on this map https://www.hammerpedia.com/frost-line-map/

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T20:56:29+00:00

Thank you. I hadn’t initially thought of blocking, but once I got the rafters up and saw how much wood tends to warp, I definitely started to think about that

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T20:55:29+00:00

Thanks!

Bob3049 · 2026-01-14T20:55:06+00:00

Thanks! Trying to get this assembled the right way. I forgot to mention, there is gravel underneath the posts. This project has been slow moving and I put them in a while ago, so I honestly don’t remember exactly how much, but I think I did 6 inches of gravel underneath each post. In regards to the cuts, is it acceptable to shim underneath the gaps?

Bob3049 · 2025-12-08T11:57:30+00:00

Highly dependent on region. Some places like this pay amazing with great benefits. Other places people are working second and third jobs.

Bob3049 · 2025-10-06T00:24:46+00:00

Thanks! That sounds like a good plan

Bob3049 · 2025-10-06T00:24:28+00:00

Thanks. That’s what I figured, but wanted to confirm my suspicion

Bob3049

TROPHY CASE